timid

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adjective tim·id \ˈti-mÉ™d\

: feeling or showing a lack of courage or confidence

Full Definition of TIMID

1

:  lacking in courage or self-confidence <a timid person>

2

:  lacking in boldness or determination <a timid policy>

— ti·mid·i·ty \tÉ™-ˈmi-dÉ™-tÄ“\ noun

— tim·id·ly \ˈti-mÉ™d-lÄ“\ adverb

— tim·id·ness noun

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Examples of TIMID

1. She's very timid and shy when meeting strangers.
2. He gave her a timid smile.

Origin of TIMID

Latin timidus, from timēre to fear

First Known Use: 1549

Related to TIMID

Synonyms

fainthearted, fearful, fearsome, mousy (or mousey), scary, skittish, shy, timorous, tremulous

Antonyms

adventuresome, adventurous, audacious, bold, daring, dashing, gutsy, hardy, venturesome, venturous

Related Words

chicken, chickenhearted, chicken-livered, cowardly, craven, dastardly, gutless, lily-livered, milk-livered [archaic], poltroon, pusillanimous, spineless, unheroic, yellow; jittery, jumpy, spooky; anxious, apprehensive, nervous; afraid, alarmed, horrified, panicked, panicky, panic-stricken, scared, shocked, spooked, startled, terrified, terrorized, unnerved

Near Antonyms

brave, courageous, dauntless, doughty, fearless, gallant, greathearted, heroic (also heroical), intrepid, lionhearted, stalwart, stout, stouthearted, undaunted, valiant, valorous; assured, confident, self-assured, self-confident; determined, firm, game, plucky, resolute, undeterred, unflinching, unswerving; mettlesome, spirited, spunky